Face Washing Dos and Don'ts

Beauty consultants might recommend a facial treatment trifecta — cleanse, tone and moisturize — but dermatologists say that comfortable-for-you cleansing is key, and moisturizing may help some skin types.

First and Foremost: The Cleanser Itself

Use a gentle, water-soluble cleanser to avoid irritating the skin — not one that needs to be wiped away with a tissue or washcloth.

Besides the fact that it washes away with water (use tepid, not hot), all you need to know about a cleanser is that it makes your skin feel soft, clean and neither dry nor greasy. Experts' picks for efficient, mild cleansing: Cetaphil, Aveeno, Neutrogena and Eucerin brands.

Second for Some: A Separate Toner

If you feel you need a toner, think about finding a better-for-you cleanser instead.

A toner's role is to remove oily residue and provide a fresh feeling; it does nothing to firm the skin long-term. With today's rinse-off cleansers, you'll rarely need a toner — you might want one, though, if your face has become oily over the course of the day.

Last but Not Least: Should You Use a Moisturizer? Maybe.

For dry-skin sufferers, a moisturizer can soothe and protect — the test is whether your skin feels too tight. There are many effective moisturizers — try one (sample size available?), then listen to your skin. These brands come recommended: by day, Oil of Olay; while you sleep, Estee Lauder.

Additional Products: A Matter of Preference

To exfoliate or not? Removing dead skin cells can make your skin look less dull, but go easy or you could injure skin that's sensitive. Instructs dermatologist Lisa Donofrio, M.D.: Use a little grapeseed or olive oil, a non-soap cleanser like Burt's Bees or Cetaphil, or a cold cream such as Pond's, and with the rough side of a washcloth make small, gentle circles all over your face.

Can creams turn you into a cover girl? These three ingredients are common in face creams:

Retinoids. For rejuvenation of photo-damaged skin, these members of the vitamin A family (the best-known being Retin-A) are effective — in prescription concentrations, at least — in reducing wrinkles, as well as clearing up acne.

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). Also known as fruit acids, these can give the skin a luster by keeping the skin free of dead cells. Over-the-counter preparations don't make as dramatic a difference as the ones used by dermatologists.

Antioxidants. The vitamins A, C and E are said to have the ability to protect and possibly repair the skin by fighting destructive molecules called free radicals.